Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-13
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
The Various Departments of the
State Government Reviewed.
The Governors Views on the Railroad
observation-disclosures in the Militia Law
Condition and Needs of the
State Institutions, Etc.

observation-disclosures i'm the Militia Law
Condition and Needs of the
State Institutions, Etc.
The message of Governor Marmaduke, deliv.
cred in the General Assembly on the eth inst.
is as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Missouri stands to-day among the foremost in
the greatest confederation of States upon the
earth Everywhere over her broad dom ain
peace and plenty are found. Her laws are lust
and are vigorously enforced. Her people are
intelligent and patriotic and heartily sustain
those in authority in the discharge of every
duty Her natural resources are unbounded.
and and comprise almost every variety found in
to the comfort of man. Her inhabitants mum
Der fully two and one-half millions OF people.
are enlightened and Industrious, and are wise
ly and energetically extending their facilities
fOE converting these natural resOurceS-raW
materlals-into the best condition for use. The
hgures-two thousand millions of dollars
which express the natural and acquired wealth
OF her people ct the present time, stand for an
enormous sum. Her revenues collected for
public use have been economically expended
Her courts and all the other parts of the ma
chlnery OF government are performing the
work GeVOlvlng upon them in satisfactory
manner.
AS "a result of these facts-for they all enter
into the result-aad probably the best evidence
that they are true. and are known and appre
clated. her credit in the great money centers is
as good as the best and strong and steady
immigration OF sturdy and valuable citizens is
being brought into our midst.
As contemplated in the State Constitution,
herewith lay before your body my estimate of
the amount of money it will be necessary to
raise by taxation within the next two wears
and some observations touching the operations
of those intrusted with the management OF the
peoples business and of the public Institutions
established and maintained by taxes levied
upon the whole people.
TAXATION FOR ALL PURPOSES.
The estimates herein are made upon the
same basis as that contained in more detail in
the report OF the Auditor. They are:
Interest on debt s., 425 go Oh
Sinking fund. Observation-Disclosures. 100000 90
Eieemosynary and educational in
Assessing aud collecting the reve- W
...............-.. 10000 90
Costs III criminal cases .............. $4,000 90
Maintenance Of public schools ...... 10000 %
Fay ana contingent expenses of the
General Assembly -. ....... $4,000 90
Sundry small appropriations ........ 210 So
Total $. a6e $50 50
The revenues under the present levy of 40
cents on the 800 Will largely exceed that sum.
but as the surplus can all be proftably used in
retiring g per cent. bonds as par, do not deem
IT wise to now change the levy.
FUND COMMISSIONER.
The operations of the Board of Fund Com
missioners for the past two years are given in
the following memorandum:
On the first day of January. 1895, the out
standing bonded debt of the State was &!1,8}3.-
W. DtdiiIlE D per cent interest, OF winch OuiT
5000 matured in 1885. The sum was paid at
maturity.
After advertising for offers of bonds to absorb
the sinking fund, the board, May 4, 1885. pur-
chased III bonds at a cost of S549. 30 includ-
ing interest and October ,. 1885. they purchased
SO bonds for :65. .03. including interest
The bonds maturing 1886 amounted to 81 129-
GOO, which was largely in excess of the resources
OF the sinking fund. To provide for the excess
the Inirty-third General Assembly passed q
funding bill authorizing the Fund Commission
ers to issue $50 funding bonds from time to time
as the necessity arose.
Marco Il. 1896. Pacific railway bonds mat1Irat
amounting to s1,ijs1,U0 To meet this demand
the board sod and issued under the funding act
60 OF the 30 funding bonds, bearing 3la per
cent. interest and dated March Is. 1886. On this
sale they realized premium of S12.53S. 80 MAX
ing the proceeds 1861. 53S.51. the balance of the
Sl-tSl,fo being paid out of the sinking fund.
On June IS the Fund Commissioners paid 275.-
900 North Missouri railway bonds maturing on
that day. and August -, S12O,OD0 North Missouri
railway bonds maturing on that day, both out of
the sinking fund.
September 1901. 900 North Missouri railway
bonus matured. and November 10 1862 Hanni-
bal & st. Joe railway bonds matured. To meet
these demands the board sold and issued 30 of
the $50 bonds bearing 32 per cent interest.
dated September !, 1886. for 1905 1Il3 So and 100
similar bonds dated November l. 1886. for Sl1J.-
$50. The balance of the demand was paid out
per cent. funding bonds sold to date is 1850 on
which premiums amounting to S31, 1923 have
cent. bonds outstanding January l.
1885, S1,276.OOO have been maid
out of the sinking fund 81: s50.gO have been
funded AT 3s per cent, and So 600 still bear
g per cent Provisions have been made for
funding s9as,00O Hannibal g. St. Joe railroad
bonds falling due February %. 1857. and $4,000
Pacific railroad bonds maturing March 10. 49,,
by the issue of f.517 bonds bearing 3Is per cent.
interest, dated March 1, 1897.
The interest on the entire State debt has
been promptly paid, including the January,
1887. interest.
The school fund indebtedness consists in one
certificate of sa.9O90D, bearing per cent. in
terest payable annually January /, and three
certificates aggregat1ng S2@s5oj0 bearing ) per
cent: interest, payable serliannually, January
! and July !.
The seminary fund consists of one per cent.
certificate of S122.O0O, interest payable an
nua1ly. and one of 100000 bearing 5 per cent. .
interest. payable semi-annually. The Agr!cul-
tural College fund consists of three certificates
aggregating $4,000, bearing per cent. inter
est. payable semi-annually.
1t viii be remembered that the act providing
Tor d refundins the pu9lis at debt limits , the
sale of bonds, August Il was remarla-
bic for the high price realized; indeed it is
without u parallel for State bonds redeemable
so short Il time as five years after issue. 1t is
my own opinion, in which 1 am confirmed by
many distinguished financiers, that, had the
bonds been rrejeemable under ten years. they
would have brought even much higher price.
L believe 1920 bonds, bearing per cent. inter
est could he sold at par above. As Il large
part of the State debt falls due in the next two
years-S6.f52 Oot-I call your particular atten-
ton to this matter, and would suggest that you
so amend the law as to allow the Fund Commits
sioners to issue $50 or 1920 bonds, as to them
may seem best.
OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
OF these five officers three, the State Audit
or, the State Treasurer and the Superintend-
eut of Public Schools, make reports directly to
your body A careful examination of these re
ports VIII satisfy you that not only are their
offices conducted with ability and fidelity. but
these reports also clearly show that the affairs
of the State are in . most prosperous condition.
From personal observation / am able to say
that what is thus shown to be true of these
three officers IS equally true of the two, Secre-
tary OF State and Attorney General. who do not
make such personal report to your body.
OF the executive offices not established by
legislative enactment and having in charge
matters of very large interest TO the people,
and whose incumbents make report either to
you or to me, call your attention to the Rail
road Commissioners and Register of Lands,
jutaat-t General and the Commissioner OF Labor
Statistics and Inspection, and the Supern-
tendent of Insurance, which are filled by ap-
pointment.
From an examination of their reports and u
personal acquaintance with the conduct of their
offices, / am sure that the gentlemen in them
are doing their duty under the law. But three
of these otficers-the Railway Commissioners
the Adiutant-General and the Commissioner of
under very imperfect and incomplete laws
A good law is of no account unless
chosen to execute it. Equally true
is it that under our form OF government the
most capable and energetic officer can do little
unless he is furnished with good and efficient
law TO execute. We have long felt the want OF
legislation to enable the Railway Commission
ers to accomplish what was intended in the es-
of the board. trust you gentle
men will do much toward meeting this want
For specific statement of the most important
changes needed, I refer you to their tenth and
eleventh annual reports.
The present Adjutant- General has, L think
accomplished all that was practicable toward
increasing the efficiency OF our militia under
the present law. You will find "A short and
clear statement of needed improvements in
that law in his current report.
Ttl,ssfI mt ri of a q